From Past to Present; A Strong Society
Social Entrepreneurship, Empowerment and Cohesion Project Notes || August, 2024
Social problems may sometimes lead us to pessimism or despair. On the other hand, as long as there are humans, there will be problems. And there will be proactive individuals who are concerned about the problems, that is, who make an effort to find solutions and take action. These individuals are the pioneers of social transformation.
Not to Worry, but to Care
We can be 'troubled' or ''concerned'' by a problem. It is important to understand the difference between the two concepts. “To be troubled” often implies a passive attitude towards problems, a feeling of pain and distress. This is limited to complaining, also due to the influence of arabesque culture. “To be concerned” is a completely different attitude. It means making an active effort to solve problems, being proactive and contributing to society.
The Power of Change for Worriers
When Mevlana says “trouble always guides man”, he also expresses the distinction between being troubled and being concerned.
Whatever one dreams of, whatever one wants to achieve, that is what one is concerned about. It is a force that mobilizes people and encourages them to seek solutions. The issue we are concerned about is an issue that we are individually sensitive to. This sensitivity awakens in us a strong desire and power for change. And we are motivated to create a better world.
A Story of Caring: “Collect and Distribute, Let the Requiem Ease”
In the face of social problems, sometimes being concerned instead of worrying opens the doors to change. Mehmet Tekerlek is a living example of this stance with the aid mobilization he started in 1956.
In 1956, while working at the Ministry of Industry and Trade, Mehmet Tekerlek was concerned about the situation of families living in poor neighborhoods during his fieldwork. He recorded the addresses of families in need in his notebook and started looking for a solution for them. One day, when he saw leftover food being thrown away in the garbage at a restaurant, he started an aid mobilization that would help those in need and last for 64 years.
First, he made an agreement with the owners, collected the leftover food during closing hours and distributed it by walking street by street. Over time, the number of families and the number of restaurants serving food increased. Every evening, summer and winter, Mehmet Tekerlek, who strives to prevent people from going hungry, has found a solution to the problem with his own labor. Mehmet Tekerlek, who has been quietly and secretly distributing food to the poor who have no one, who are bedridden, who have many children and who are in real need for years, has worn out 5 cars and 1 motorcycle on the roads with the slogan “Collect, Distribute, Let the Requem Ease”. In his own words, he chose to devote his life to this service. Mehmet Tekerlek, who is 98 years old today, could not spare time for himself and start a family. But he has a large family full of people who kiss his hand when they see him on the road, who grew up on the food he brought them, and whose eyes fill with tears and respect when they listen to his story.
Mehmet Tekerlek's efforts inspired the establishment of the Social Assistance and Solidarity Fund in 1986. He received the Distinguished Service Award from the Grand National Assembly of Turkey for his efforts.
(Source: TRT Documentary, Giving Hand Receiving Hand - Sefer Tasi / Mehmet Tekerlek)
What Happened in the Field in August?
This month, we met with our beneficiaries during field visits to support and empower entrepreneurs who prefer to take action instead of worrying. We listened to the business issues they worry about and take action on, and discovered why they started their entrepreneurial journey.
Grant Program Announcements and Supported Beneficiaries
The beneficiaries to be supported in the Grant Program, which was opened for the first time in the Eastern Mediterranean and Çukurova regions, and for the second time in the İpekyolu, Karacadağ and Dicle regions, were announced. With these announcements, we are nearing the end of the grant component of the project.
Within the scope of the Grant Program, the beneficiaries followed the steps of application, training, preparing a business plan with mentor support, evaluation of the business plan by the committee, signing contracts and procurement. In total, contracts have been signed with 1100 beneficiaries and 284 beneficiaries' machinery and equipment purchases are ongoing.
Visits to Social Entrepreneurship Centers and Livelihood Facilities
As part of the second component of the project, visits to the projects selected following the call for new Social Entrepreneurship Centers and Livelihood Facilities are ongoing. Through these visits, the progress and needs of the projects are assessed and local support and cooperation are strengthened.
Capacity Development Efforts
In line with the training needs analysis that emerged from the focus groups and surveys conducted among project implementers, we aim to increase the capacity of organizations to work with women and youth. In this context, training programs and support services are planned.
Storytelling Workshop with Our Beneficiaries Who Courage to Take the Road
In order to support our beneficiaries in capacity building and storytelling in their entrepreneurial journey, we organized a workshop on storytelling. We were together in Islahiye with SEECO beneficiaries who were supported in the first cycle of the grant program carried out by İpekyolu Development Agency.
In the workshop, our beneficiaries recalled their personal entrepreneurship journey consisting of 6 stages. They shared how they found the courage to take action, the obstacles they faced, the guides and mentors who guided them, and the dreams they achieved. Based on their own experiences, they left their messages to prospective entrepreneurs at the beginning of their journey.
Through the workshop, our beneficiaries embarked on a deep journey in their inner worlds and narrated their own entrepreneurship processes as a result of the workshop.
Meetings with Music and Stories at Social Entrepreneurship Centers
We met with children and the Nani Nani music group with the music and puppet show we organized in our İslahiye and Nurdağı Social Entrepreneurship Centers. With songs and stories, we had a pleasant meeting to strengthen social cohesion and social solidarity in the region.
Developments from Çağlayancerit Walnut Processing Plant
Realized in 2021 with the support of DOĞAKA, Çağlayancerit Walnut Processing Facility carries out all processing stages of geographically marked walnuts with modern methods. The project, carried out in partnership with Çağlayancerit Municipality and Çağlayancerit Walnut Agricultural Development Cooperative, was strengthened by the installation of a Solar Power Plant and the addition of new machines with the support of SEECO. Thanks to this investment, a facility where women can actively participate and contribute to green transformation has been created.
Support for Women's Employment from Şahinbey Social Entrepreneurship Center
Şahinbey Social Entrepreneurship Center took an important step with the SEECO project to increase women's employment, contribute to personal development and expand educational opportunities for young people. Within the scope of the project, women gained knowledge and skills to contribute to the family economy with the training they received in the textile workshop.
On August 21, 2024, women who completed their training at the textile workshop were presented with sewing kits purchased as part of the project. This initiative contributed to both personal and economic empowerment of women. This project, implemented in cooperation with Şahinbey Municipality, Şahin Bey Ezogelin Public Education Center, İpekyolu Development Agency, Ministry of Industry and Trade, World Bank and SEECO, aims to make a big difference in the neighborhood.
We wish it to be a month in which we stop worrying about our individual problems, worry about the realization of the situation we long for and take action for this...